GLP-1 boom drives major fashion brands to cut plus-size ranges
As weight-loss drugs reshape consumer demand, H&M, Mango, and Anthropology scale back extended sizes, while second-hand platforms report a surge in plus-size purchases.
Major fashion retailers are significantly reducing or eliminating plus-size clothing options in their spring/summer 2026 collections, a shift that industry analysts link to the rising popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the United States. Research firm Edited, which tracks inventory on retailer websites, found that H&M’s 3XL and 4XL sizes, which comprised two per cent of new women’s dress inventory in the previous season, were entirely absent in 2026. H&M confirmed to The Guardian that it discontinued these sizes due to lower demand, while other large sizes such as XXL and XL also saw declines in stock.
The trend extends across the sector. Mango reduced its inventory of new dresses in sizes 16 to 20 from 6.6 per cent in spring/summer 2025 to just 0.5 per cent in 2026. Similarly, Anthropology experienced a year-on-year reduction in plus-sized dress offerings, dropping from 10.5 per cent to nine per cent in July 2026. This contraction follows years of rollbacks in the industry, including the closure of extended size ranges by brands such as Loft and Old Navy, and significant store closures at plus-size chain Torrid.
The shift correlates with a notable change in national health metrics. Mintel research indicates that 18 per cent of US adults reported using GLP-1 drugs as of June 2025, up from 12 per cent in 2024. Consequently, the rate of US adult obesity, which had risen for decades, peaked at 39.9 per cent in 2022 before dropping to 36.4 per cent this year, according to Gallup. Prashant Agrawal, CEO of Impact Analytics, described GLP-1s as the primary reason apparel retailers are currently anxious about sizing, noting that for the first time in 50 years, the average US body size is moving in the opposite direction.
Despite the decline in new retail inventory, demand for larger garments remains robust in the second-hand market. ThredUp reported that purchase volume for large, XL, and plus-sized items in women’s apparel grew 17.4 per cent in the first half of 2026, more than double the growth rate for small and medium sizes. Kristen Brophy, senior vice-president of marketing at ThredUp, stated that demand for larger sizes is one of the fastest-growing parts of their marketplace, partly because many brick-and-mortar thrift stores do not stock plus-size items, pushing consumers to online platforms.
Industry experts caution that while GLP-1s are altering the size curve, they are not eliminating the need for size inclusivity. Brittany Steiger, associate principal of retail and e-commerce at Mintel, noted that 69 per cent of shoppers say brands need to offer more size and length options. She emphasised that the bigger story is the ongoing challenge of fit, suggesting that brands should focus on size flexibility and adjustability rather than reducing the range of sizes available.
Walmart stands out as a rare exception, adding inventory for larger customers this season. Krista Corrigan, senior retail analyst at Edited, observed that this strategy allows the budget retailer to capitalise on white space in the market. In contrast, affluent brands like Anthropology are switching from numeric to alpha sizes, which Corrigan said are better suited to absorb minor body fluctuations for consumers undergoing transitions. This divergence highlights a growing divide, with plus-sized shoppers increasingly being ejected from the trend-led, affluent segment of the market while budget and second-hand options remain the primary sources for inclusive sizing.
